Getting comfy with art (and the artists)
In the mix of Dallas' many art galleries, museums and exhibition spaces, there's nothing else like the Bath House Cultural Center. And on their richly varied calendar of art shows featuring local artists, there's nothing like the annual invitational exhibition, Salon du FIT.
Fifty-nine works by approximately forty artists make up Salon du FIT 4, which opens tomorrow evening with an artists' reception in its trademark setting, the intimate atmosphere of a turn-of-the-century salon. Rita Barnard, curator (and co-founder with fellow artist Greg Stinson), brings in comfy sofas and chairs, coffee and cookies. You'll just want to hang.
And if coffee-and-cookies is the opposite of wine-and-cheese, Salon du FIT's is very unlike the typical gallery opening in other ways as well. For one thing, the Bath House has made its niche as the Dallas artist's art space. So, while attendance at most gallery openings is largely collectors and other high-profilers, it's mostly artists at a Bath House reception; a great opportunity to talk directly with the ones who made the work.
Also, Rita's found another way to loosen up the crowd at this year's reception: her invitational post card (above) features tiny details from 32 pieces in the exhibition. Match the numbered close-ups to the actual works in the show and win a prize.
All that and I haven't even mentioned the Bath House's wonderful 1930 Art Deco structure or its location on the shores of White Rock Lake.
Salon du FIT 4 runs through August 4.
Salon du FIT 4
Invitational Exhibition
Curated by Rita Barnard
July 7-August 4, 2007
Opening Reception:
Saturday, July 7, 2007 – 7 to 9pm
Free and open to the public.
521 E. Lawther Drive, Dallas, TX 75218
214-670-8749
The list of artists included in Salon du FIT 4, along with several images of work in the show, can be seen at:
http://www.bathhousecultural.com/salondufit4.html
